Description: AU. Buffy as an army brat, imagine the possibilities. Anyway, she moves to Sunnydale and meets William "Spike" O'Connor. But Buffy has learned in the past not to get too close to people because she always ends up leaving. So what will happen when Buffy finally falls head over heels in love?

Rating: PG-13

Pairing: Buffy/Spike (again.)

"Xander, are you sure you know how to start a fire?"

"How hard could it be?" he mused, dumping a generous amount of fluid into the pit. "A little lighter fluid, some logs, a match or two and BOOM, you've got fire!"

Both Willow and Buffy stared at him a moment. "Okay," Buffy shook her head, "have fun." She grabbed Willow's arm and tugged her a safe distance from the fire pit to where Oz and Spike were lounging comfortably on a large blanket.

"Where's Tara?" Willow asked.

"Ran up to the house for the food," Spike answered. Buffy made herself comfy in Spike's lap, his arms wrapped around her waist, her body leaning against his chest.

"I should go see if she needs help," Will looked up at the beach house a short fifty some yards away.

"I'll go with," Oz said climbing up from the blanket and joining his girlfriend. The two departed leaving Buffy and Spike alone.

Immediately their lips met in a fury of emotions. It'd been almost a full day since the two had first kissed and from that moment on they couldn't keep their hands off one another. They were always stealing kisses in a dark corner or holding hands whenever they could or even just sitting close together. It was almost as it their bodies were magnetic, yearning for the other when apart.

Breaking the kiss, Buffy gasped for air and smiled at Spike. "So what were you and Oz talking about?"

"Oh we were just placing bets," Spike grinned.

"Placing bets? On what?"

"How long it would take for the Whelp to light himself on fire," he answered nodding towards Xander who was struggling with the pile of logs and cussing under his breath.

Buffy laughed, "I don't think it will take very long. Maybe we should go help him." But before she could stand up Spike tightened his grip around her waist, holding her tight against him. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," Spike answered, "I just love having you in my lap. Generates some nice friction." He smiled devilishly and wagged his eyebrows.

Buffy reached up and slapped his chest playfully. "You're perverted, you know that?"

"That's on of my best qualities," Spike argued.

"I'd have to say it was your sense of humor," Oz said, returning to the blanket carrying an armful of sodas, cups, and Styrofoam plates. Tara followed quickly with the buns, mustard, and ketchup.

"Where's Willow?" Buffy asked noticing the absence of the over jubilant red head.

"She's helping Xander with the fire. I think he almost set himself on fire," Tara added glancing backwards.

Xander and Willow were arguing, waving their limbs profusely. Looking at them you would never know that these two had been the best of friends since kindergarten. Something about a yellow crayon brought them together, Xander had often told Buffy the story but she never quite grasped the concept.

"They're so cute when they argue," Buffy giggled.

"I think I better go break it up before Willow kicks his ass," Spike said. Reluctantly, he nudged Buffy off his lap, grimacing at the lack of contact.

"Better go with him," Oz set down the items in his arms, "Will can get pretty nasty when pushed to the limit."

Buffy and Tara watched the two men approach the fire sight. Conversation was had that neither girl could make out, but moments later Willow came trudging over to the blanket and flopped down.

"What's the matter Will?" Buffy asked popping a potato chip into her mouth.

"Xander's going to get himself killed one of these days," she sighed.

"What's he d-doing?" Tara asked, setting her stuff on the blanket next to Oz's things.

"He dumped the entire bottle of lighter fluid on the logs. I told him putting a match to the mixture would give you a flame large enough to see from an airplane but he didn't believe me. It's downright dangerous to do that, I mean does he know what could happen?" Snapping open a can of soda Willow took a large swig and set it into the sand.

"Don't worry Will," Buffy assured her, "Spike and Oz are there to help him now. It's cool." No sooner than the words had left her mouth a loud 'Bloody Hell' was heard. Three sets of eyes darted to the fire pit. Spike, Xander and Oz stood feet from the whole, a flame near ten feet high shooting from deep within.

"I told you!" Willow shouted earning a shrug of the shoulders from Xander.

"We s-should go help," Tara offered.

"Are you kidding? I'm not going anywhere near that thing!" Buffy pointed at the out of control flame. Already Spike had brought a bucket of water back from the crashing waves and doused the logs. The fire shrunk a little, but it was still far too large to maintain.

"See, they've got it under control." Buffy pointed out. "No need for us to interfere and risk singing hair."

----

After finally getting the fire under control, hot dogs and marshmallows were roasted, and eaten by all.

Buffy had just finished her third smore when Spike pulled her to her feet saying, "Come on, let's go for a walk."

"Okay," she agreed quickly. She dropped her plated into the garbage bag, took one last drink from her soda can and tossed it in also, and joined Spike.

"They're not coming back for a while are they?" Willow asked with a mischievous grin.

"Probably not," Tara answered plucking her half burnt marshmallow off the stick. She popped it in her mouth and smiled at the warm sticky goo left on her fingers.

----

They'd only been walking for ten minutes when Buffy looked behind her and decided that they were far enough from the group. Without a moment's hesitation, she grabbed Spike around the neck and crushed her lips to his. He responded eagerly, working his tongue inside her mouth. His hands came to rest on her waist, thumbs massaging tiny circles in the skin exposed by her shirt. Tiny goose bumps surfaced under his touch.

The kiss was broken with reluctance, both blondes breathing hard. Resting her forehead against his, Buffy spoke in a voice just above a whisper. "I don't want to go home."

"Who does?" Spike asked with a chuckle. "I don't want to be away from you for longer than a minute."

Buffy smiled and kissed him softly on the lips. "I can't believe we've been here for three days already. It feels like we just got here."

"Know what you mean," Spike said walking again. His arm slinked its way around Buffy's waist pulling her closer; she laid her head on his shoulder.

They walked slowly, enjoying the feel of the wet sand beneath their feet, the sound of the waves crashing on the shore, and the occasional blast of cold water against their legs. Two hungry seagulls flew overhead screeching to one another.

"We should make this a yearly deal," Spike suggested. "We always get a long weekend around the same time every school year."

"Won't you be going to college next year though?" Buffy asked.

"I'll probably be headed to UC Sunnydale. I could take a day off of classes. No big." Honestly Spike was never one to think that far ahead, he preferred to live life as it came to him, day to day.

"Taking days off of class is what gets you kicked out," Buffy laughed.

"Yeah, well, anything to be near you." The two shared another passionate kiss that left both breathless.

"You're too sweet, you know that?" Buffy laughed.

"I've been told that, yeah."

Buffy laughed and wrapped her arms around Spike's waist. They continued their walk in silence, only the sounds of nature surrounding them. All thoughts were focused on themselves, and the wonderful feelings they were both experiencing.